On this Mamorial Day

A Sailor Retires

A Sailor retires from the Navy after 26 years, in the navy, his wife watches as they pipe him ashore for the last time, a tradition that has been used since the 1700. that would signal a retiring sailor was leaving the ShipDsc_0014

Piping Ashore

These days the “Piping Ashore” is reserved for both officers and enlisted men who have completed a career serving their country in the highest traditions of the Naval Service. There are no `baskets” involved in today’s updated Piping Ashore” ceremony. Now the retiree passes by the “Sideboys,” who salute as the Bos’n Mate Pipes him ashore… Traditionally the retiree requests permission to “go ashore” for the last time symbolizing then end of a naval career.

Pinning of a Naval CPO

My piping ashore

My piping ashore

Ceremonies and Traditions are a big part of the Military from advancements of Enlisted persons, the Pinning of a Chief Petty Officer.
These ceremonies instill pride in those who achieved the right to be Pinned as a United States Navy Chief Petty Officer. Pride Courage Commitment, Core values, exemplified admiration from junior sailors as friends they have grown with in their service are now in a leadership who’s position is appointed by the President of the United States. and can only be revoked by the President’s hand.

Another ceremony is that of Retirement as a Sailor ends his career his Military service is recognized by those that have served with and beside him, usually give what is called a shadow box that depicts the sailors career from the time he entered into the service until retiring, in this box you would find all the rating badges of rank, Medals he/she was awarded during their time in service and folded in the traditional triangle with star’s visible, Our nations Flag that was flown overDsc_0034 the monument or place of the retirees choice, (Mine was flown over the USS Arizona by my request)  documented by the Department of the navy with official letter that accompanies the Flag.

This is a cherished reminder and proud symbol of Military Service to be proudly displayed by the service member. The retirement ceremony is shared by not only persons of the service members Unit, or Command but also family members, friends, distinguished guest invited by the service member, The spouse of the service member is also recognized for her dedicated service to the member..

The Sailor or Marine making his journey from Military to Civilian life, is given another flag to fly over his home which is presented during the Flag ceremony. with the following presentation
Another Tradition for those that served who have passed is the last one that a proud service member will be a part of but when performed for him he will not see. That is the one when it is placed over the coffin he may lie in and his fellow service members fold and present to those that loved him. with the following words, On Behalf of a proud and grateful nation It is my honor to  present to you this Flag of the United States of America may it be a Symbol of your loved one’s distinguished Service, to his/her county.

On this Memorial day Let us remember the Men and Women that gave their lives. to keep us and those we Love

Free

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Surfing in San Diego

Sometimes Diving, means surfing

Diving San Diego unfortunately conditions are not always the best, Ok I said it were not perfect.  However,

there is a alternative. Surfing San Diego is also one of our local past times, that when diving is less than perfect  for those that love the water surfing is a alternative.

What if you don’t know how to surf ?  Well there are several way’s to fix that,  Surf Diva is one way they are a small shop in the La Jolla Shores where the girls (all certified instructors) at the shop will give you one on one surf lessons or group lessons, great for a birthday party for the kids something to do with their friends that offers exercise and something different.  surf school Surf Diva hosts  other servicessdiva such as bachelorette   parties and Corporate team building, kids surf camp, overnight surf camps and others, Adult programs are also available .

There are a lot of water sports to be done and learned, like  Stand Up Paddle board Lessons. a repetitively new sport enjoyed by many people at are shore’s serves as a cross between surfing and kayaking.  Looks like a lot of

paddle board fun, It doesn’t take a lot of time the way the girl’s teach you they will take you out and have you up and having fun in no time. just give them some time. The store at La Jolla shores also offers the one stop shopping experience that lets you stop in sign up for a classes pick up a few things you may have forgot to pack or just to get some souvenirs or some gifts for your friends back home.

The Surf Diva Store

Diving San Diego doesn’t always mean Scuba diving some days it could mean Diving  into the Local life and see what else there is to do, in San Diego. Surfing in San Diego is just one more that you can do here. I put this post on my blog because of the weather, which has been less than perfect the past few days and people were asking what to do when the diving is not good well this is what I came up with enjoy San Diego and  enjoy your vacation.

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Diving with Disabilities

San Diego Adaptive Scuba

A Ventilator for Matt

It started simply enough a Diveheart Class / San Diego Adaptive Scuba Diving

We entered the class room, and filled the paper work out Liability releases, Medical statements. the typical things that any dive class would have to fill out , copy of dive card, everything you would expect to do, we gave a overview of the class explaining how diving with disabilities is only limited to the person with the disabilities.

Soon we were watching Philip Cousteau in Freedom in Depth we watched the video’s and discussed the awesome courage, of those persons that endure the lemons that they have received in their lives and have made some of the sweetest lemon aid ever. Then all of a sudden Matt Johnston’s video came on and the room became silent,Matt Johnston after the video Jim Elliot  founder of Diveheart, told the students about a  project that Northwestern University is working on. its kind of a ventilator scuba rig.  After seeing Matt on the video of the TODAY show they wanted to make a ventilator that can be attached to the dive tanks and allow Matt to dive to a deeper level,(Oh did I tell you that Matt Johnston, has what they call Duchenne’s Muscular Dystroyphy and is a Quadriplegic wheel chair bound).

This prototype will cost about 20,000.00 Dollars,  Well this was all that one student had to hear, Giles (a student in the class that not only survived a disabling auto crash and spinal cord injury but, has recovered to approximately 95% of his pre-accident status  pipes up and say’s ” If all it is going to take is money lets find 9 more people as crazy as I am” Without a moments hesitation Giles writes a check for 2000.00 (two thousand dollars) hands it to Jim Elliott and again says I’ll eat noodles for the next month won’t I” This is were it really became not about the training in the class but making a incredible change in the life of one  human being by the generosity of another that did not know anything about Matt until this class, excitement took over planning for the 30 days became the focus. We launched what we are calling The Giles Project ( For Obvious reason)  . to raise 20K over the next 30 days, and give that 20K to Diveheart and Matt Johnston so he can realize his dream. In a bold statement that was taken onboard by everyone there Giles, David, Evelyn, Jim and myself decided we were going to raise the Twenty Thousand Dollars. within the next 30 days. there was no discussion no negative thoughts, no negative statements about not enough time nothing, just positive actions and statement’s like”tell Matt to get his DUI dry suit out he is heading to deeper water”.

A call to action to those that may read this.

Check out Diveheart at www.diveheart.org, give Al’s diving a call toll free for more information @ (877) 213-2983 or simply give a donation as little as a dollar is good but please (No cash) any thing you may want to send Please send by check Made out to Diveheart,  in the memo section be sure to say apply to the Giles Project.

Assisting with the donning of a wet suite for a quadriplegic

Assisting with the donning of a wet suite for a quadriplegic

Mail Checks to

Al’s Diving

PA 177

2514 Jamacha Road #502

El Cajon, CA 92019

Email diving4less@cox.net

Facebook:  alsdiving

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Adaptive Scuba Diving

First San Diego Adaptive Scuba Diving is Complete

Well its Monday the 24th, there is a strange calm over the Shop, here at Al’s Diving /Diving 4 Less. why is that?

The first official class of the San Diego Adaptive Scuba Diving is complete. there are now 1o new divers that have the ability and the knowledge to Teach and or Assist Divers with disabilities to become Certified Scuba Divers. Because the ocean was very angry this weekend we had to move our class to Mariners point in San Diego

Diveheart / San Diego Adaptive Scuba Diving first class

Diveheart / San Diego Adaptive Scuba Diving first class

the weather was cold and windy and viability poor but that didn’t stop this class from doing what they set out to do, and that was to finish the the open water portion of the disabled, dive training. which they did with flying colors.

The San Diego Adaptive Scuba Diving, in conjunction with Diveheart. is a comprehensive training program that covers everything from diving preparation, equipment assembly, transferring persons from a wheel chair to the water, and of course the dive.

Getting there was half the fun. as you can see from some of the pictures in this post everyone learns a little empathy for their counterparts.Knowing how to put someone in a wetsuit. when the diver needing it presents some interesting challenges. Accepting this challenge takes a very special person and as you see we have several people here that foot the bill , here you can see it takes team work to get the job done. each student takes the part of a diver with some form of disability, assisting a Blind diver , a amputee , a paraplegic and quadriplegic this provides our dive buddies, with the tools to be  confident in their abilities, and their training.

Assisting with wetsuit

Assisting with wetsuit

Learning to assemble equipment as a blind diver

Learning to assemble equipment as a blind diver

completing a task such as assembling equipment as a visual impaired, diver takes a little patients.

helping with a wetsuit takes a gentle touch, and a slow hand to insure that injuries are not caused by the friction against the pulling on of the wetsuit or by the booties being placed on the foot every thing is tried and tested.

Once on the pool deck consideration for the transfer from chair to pool is another skill that must be mastered to insure safety for the dive buddy and the diver being transferred. Again team work is a big factor in getting the job done.

communication talking to each other and to the diver your assisting will tell you how to assist them in the best way.  Students  practice makes these transfers making sure that they are comfortable with the skill and strength that may be needed to perform the task.

Transfering of a diver

Transfering of a diver

Every buddy will perform the skill each diver will rotate through each position give the task to lead follow or be the disabled diver.

The training given here today was done by Al’s Diving and Jim Elliott founder of  The  Diveheart Foundation out of Chicago Illinois we would like to thank  the Wavehouse of Mission Beach San Diego,  for use of their pool to conduct the training, Also Ocean Enterprise for allowing our group to use their class room for one night and Manta Finns for not only providing three sets of Manta Finns for fund-raising prizes, but for his participation for part of the pool training,

This was such a great class, and everyone learned things about diving with a disability diving with a diver that is disabled and a few things about them selves,

Anyone wanting to make a comment or wants to get involved just let us know we will point you in the right direction ,

Then its all up to you to change a life,

Then its all up to you to change a life,

Dive Safe Dive Often Enjoy the Dive,

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Diving San Diego – Catalina Island

Diving San Diego doesn’t always mean diving in San Diego some days when the weather is fine and the Ocean is calm many of us will take the hour and a half, drive north to the City of Long Beach and take one of the local dive boats  maybe the Great Escape Great EscapeCapt.  Tim Burk allows us to go down to the boat the evening prior and stay over night on the boat,  waking up to the smell of coffee and the sound of the engines moving us “26 miles across the sea where Santa Catalina is waiting for me“  (I couldn’t resist) If you have never been to Catalina, it is a small Island 26 miles off of the coast of Long Beach Ca. beautiful inlets and Marina’s Capt. Tim takes us to the to several spots on the protected side of the Island where divers explore places like Ship Rock where you may find the elusive Angle Shark, Or around to the Weather side of the Island where you would dive the area called F

Avalon Harbor and Casino point dive park

Avalon Harbor and Casino point dive park

arnsworth Banks this area is a great place for advanced diver’s to dive and explore Pinnacles which rise from the ocean floor, to depths averaging about 100 ft. with visibility ranging about the same.

Catalina Island hosts several small towns, boy scout camps, school retreats, and even a old club that was once home to a base ball teams clubhouse that still stands today.

Catalina, is a wonderful place to visit, Avalon harbor by day boat that leaves the landing near the  Queen Mary Hotel.  The boat fly’s over, to Catalina, in about a hour, droping everyone at the main, dock at Avalon bay a taxi ride over to Casino point and you do your dives over there the Jacques Cousteau Memorial.

Diving San Diego doesn’t always mean diving in San Diego but diving where San Diegan’s dive, so get out dive safe and try some of the suggestions, you’ll be glad you did.

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Diving with Disabilities – Dive heart training

diveheart logoFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 1, 2010
From: Diveheart
900 Ogden Avenue #274
Downers Grove, IL 60515
Telephone: Diveheart at 630-964-1983
Al’s Diving 619-885-1795
California Residents to Receive Training to Teach and/or Assist Scuba Divers with Disabilities
Al’s Diving in San Diego will host Jim Elliott, president and founder of Illinois-based Diveheart as he provides instructor/buddy training for scuba diving with children, adults and veterans with disabilities. The program which begins with classroom instruction on May 19 will conclude with pool and open water dives ending on May 23.
WHAT: DIVEHEART Instructor and Buddy Training for Scuba Diving with Individuals with Disabilities
WHERE:Ocean Enterprises Classroom ,  7710 Balboa Ave San Diego, CA 92111
Open water dive on Sunday, La Jolla Shores
WHEN: May 19-23  A Discover Scuba Event for Individuals with Disabilities will be held on May 22
Diveheart provides and supports educational scuba diving and snorkeling experience programs to any child, adult, or veteran with a disability with the hope of providing both physical and psychological therapeutic value.
The physical, mental and spiritual benefits of scuba for people with disabilities and wounded veterans are beyond measure. “Science is increasingly supporting what we in the diving community already know to be true,” said Elliott. “This is the only sport in the world that has no gravity, along with all of the benefits that come with that. Our divers find that they can move body parts that they’ve never been able to move before. Range of motion improves immediately, circulation improves immediately. The under-water world of scuba is the only gravity-free environment in the world.”
Diveheart instructor/buddy training course has been taught to dive professionals around the world including the U.S., Caribbean, Australia, China, Mexico and more. Attendees at the upcoming event will learn about various disabilities and accessibility. Confined water training includes diving as a paraplegic (with legs tied), and as a blind diver with a blackened mask.
Diveheart Foundation is a non-profit tax exempt 501 (C) (3) national organization chartered in the state of Illinois. For further information visit www.diveheart.com. For information regarding the upcoming event contact Alan Blake at ablakediving@cox.net or call him at 619-885-1795

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Diving San Diego – HMS Yukon

Well Diving San Diego, with friends is always a good time we at Al’s Diving went out to the HMS Yukon on the Waterhorse Charter  with the Scuba Diver Girls what a great dive, with us we had a bunch of really good divers from all over the area and some from out of the area as far away as Wisconsin, These people now friends, came out to San Diego for a short stop before heading up to Long Beach Calif. to attend the 2010 Scuba Show at the Long Beach Convention Center. We had a awesome time

The Motley Crew on the Waterhorse Charter

The Motley Crew on the Waterhorse Charter

The Yukon is a 366 ft. Canadian Mackenzie Class Destroyer, sank as a artificial reef, by the Ocean’s Foundations it was set to be sank by explosives set throughout the ship, unfortunately while awaiting the official sinking, mother nature had her own ideas so with the increasing swell through the night the mighty Yukon, unceremoniously took on water and slipped below the waves to its final resting place 100 feet below the surface at   32 46.80 N 117 17.12 W.  A little over a mile off of Mission Beach.

Now the Yukon is one of San Diego’s biggest draws the newest member of Wreck Ally the Yukon can claim to have been a part of just about every divers vacation, or advanced class, for those divers that are continuing on with their training.

Divers  many from Al’s Diving descend on the Yukon from a variety of boats that transport adventure seekers, wreck divers, advanced divers, to her decks.

Resting on her left (port) side, over the past 10 years this once mighty ship is now the home to thousands of fish, sea lions, harbor seals cruse the ship after schooling fish,
as well as Sheep

Crabs, sheep head fish black Jack’s and others some times even a hungry Comoran,comoran can be seen diving on the Yukon for a free meal, all the life that is surrounding this sunken hulk, is actually there because of the ship its self, its been ten years since they sank the Yukon creating this artificial reef one of many around the world and around our united states, The Vandenberg sank only a year ago in Key West  Florida in May 2009 as a artificial reef to the delite of onlookers who watched her go down and waiting for the first Okay from the contolling athouities to allow divers to dive the now silent Vandenberg.

Our Yukon is a great destination of travel for those coming to do some Diving, or on business trips and have a chance to stay a day or two and fit in a quick dive with us.

What ever your reason to come to San Diego and your a diver contact us and lets get a dive in have a great week, dive safe,

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Things that make me mad-Littering our Ocean’s

Litter: trash, a human condition of the soul, a I don’t care or don’t know what I’m doing. Stop and think for just a moment, how many times have you heard someone complain about global warming, then the other side says it’s not happening, weather it is or isn’t happening isn’t the real problem at least the way I see it. The trash on the beachproblem is we the People Use half throw it away it didn’t make the trash can that’s OK someone will pick it up,  oh well it’s just a cup, I didn’t want it in my car, street sweeper will pick it up, soon we end up with something that looks like this, no-one looks at it and says did I do that we look at it and say this should not happen this is sad, this is our fault, oops we don’t say that we blame someone else. Don’t get mad, I have done the same thing, without thinking about it. It’s automatic its, (man I cringe saying this) second nature, to most of us and this makes me mad. I really want to change that. Living in San Diego,every year around this time people descend on our beaches, Ocean Beach, Mission Beach, La Jolla Shore’s for fun sun and picnic’s, unfortunately most of what they bring with them in the way of food bags cans end up staying where they dropped it and we end up with this

The Morning after,

The Morning after,

Bags and bags of trash were picked up by volunteers, God bless them, making the beach clean again and all is good right? Wrong, here is the problem that can’t be fixed from the shore. The problem moved from the beach where there are at least cans to be used weather or not they use them that’s another story. Can’s over flow where it takes tractors to sift the sand, to pick up all the trash left on the beach, The city of San Diego banned the use of alcohol on the beach in 2008 after many complaints. so what happens now is that people are taking kayaks off shore with coolers filled with beer or whatever these bottles cans and whatever they bring out with them tend to stay in the ocean, this is what is making me mad. each year divers do a underwater clean up a Clean the bay and clean  up after the floatopia parties this traditions really needs to stop. The people drinking in the water are not thinking about keeping the ocean clean they want to have a good time drink and go home.

drinking in the wate avoids the no alcohal on the beach

drinking in the water avoids the no alcohol on the beach

They don’t take their trash home with them Drinking in the water avoids the no alcohol on the beach, count the people in the picture if each one of them left on one bottle one can in the water well you can imagine what the bottom looks like how long do we let this go on? Global Warming, Going Green Stop Using Plastic. All the catch phases don’t count for anything if we don’t change our ways and stop  doing what we’re doing. Look at the picture how many of these people do you think protest for one or more of the above catch phrases, and then during those it’s time to party day’s Memorial day the 4th of July etc. Care about any of those things. We can ban the alcohol, ban the food, ban this ban that but without WE THE PEOPLE doing something about it when we see it nothing will change, we don’t really need more law’s we need more self control and more people to do what’s right. We all know what’s right at least I hope we do.  I hope this gives you something to think about. This is a call to action to make a difference this year all you have to do is pick up after yourselves. Have a great weekend,

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Diving with Disabilities – Our world of diving

Our world, the big blue planet, two thirds covered by ocean all connected to each other, amazing isn’t it?

blue marble

Those of us that are divers spend a great deal of time either in the ocean or thinking about being in the ocean, blowing bubbles. We owe a great deal of that time to a man that most of use have heard of, but only know a small part of that story.

On the 11th of June 1910 the a family welcomed into the world a child, that would grow up to become the co-founder of a little company called, Aqua Lung Jacques-Yves Cousteau.cousteau He also became a diving advocate and advocate to our oceans and exploration of them.

Something you may not know about Jacques Cousteau is that his ambition was to become a fighter pilot for the French Air Force. but do to a automobile accident, which left him with out the use of one arm and the other arm badly damaged, he was removed from the Air Force Academy and sent to sea duty, his dream of flying shattered he became a flier of a different kind, he excelled in the underwater world and became arguable the most famous underwater explorer in history.

We as divers have not given up on the exploration of our oceans and many divers are now helping those divers with disabilities explore the underwater world we love so much. through programs like DiveHeart , PVA, and others.

Come visit Diving San Diego each week as I bring you a little more information on diving with disabilities pictures and videos of some the most can do will do exciting people in our area of San Diego . Come get involved, get excited, get certified, explore or underwater world right here in San Diego

COME LEARN TO FLY

 

www.alsdiving.storeblogs.com

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Divers Need Your Help

Divers, Instructor’s , DM’s, Open water divers, Rescue, and advanced, I need you, I’m having Jim Elliott from the Diveheart foundation here on the 19th thru the 23rd of this month to help get you certified, as a dive buddy for disabled person I have several people that want to come and discover scuba diving.
Two are Quadriplegics, that are looking forward to trying to scuba dive, The pool at the Wavehouse, will be the place that changes the life for these people, I know times are tough and money is tight for everyone, But for 200.00 you can be a dive buddy, for those that are Instructors and you want to learn a little more, and you want to add another credit to you dive resume’ for 375.00 Dollars you can become a HSA Scuba Instructor. This will be a heart moving experience as well as some of the best diving you have done with your eyes closed.
Change a life,

Alan Blake
Al’s Diving
619 885 1795
ablakediving@cox.net

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